E Z Kitty Named 2013 Washington Horse of the Year

Washington Horse of the Year  E Z KITTY.

    E Z Kitty is the third offspring of He's Tops, a son of the great Seattle Slew, to earn state Horse of the Year honors. E Z Kitty follows No Giveaway (2005) and Reba Is Tops (2009) in the top spot. He's Tops was bred by prominent Seattle businessman and sports entrepreneur Herman Sarkowsky.

   Older horse and gelding honors went to stakes winner and Longacres Mile (G3) runner-up Stryker Phd, a four-year-old son of Bertrando who races for Jim and Mona Hour and was trained by Margo Lloyd.

    Stryker Phd's three-year-old half-sister Madam Pele, by Salt Lake, who races for Zach and Beth Correa's Kama'aina Thoroughbreds  and was trained through much of the year by Jim Penney, earned the championship title in her division.

    Music of My Soul, the state's 2102 champion two-year-old male runner, added the three-year-old title for Ken and Marleen Alhadeff's historic Elttaes Stable. He was one of two 2013 champions trained by Doris Harwood.

    Among the 2013 juvenile set, Pam and Neal Christopherson (Bar C Racing Stable Inc.) and Melodie Bultena and Doak Walker (Desert Rose Racing LLC) homebred Del Rio Harbor, also trained by Harwood, won the state's top juvenile race - the Gottstein Futurity - and two other stakes and was named champion two-year-old colt or gelding. Michael and Amy Feuerborn's three-time stakes-winner Chu and You - a full sister to 2011 champion two-year-old male Chu and I - was named the champion two-year-old filly.  2013 special racetrack achievement award winner Robbie Baze trains the talented miss. The filly's pensioned sire, You and I, is living out his days at Old Friends horse retirement facility in Kentucky.

    Karl Krieg's homebred Absolutely Cool, Washington's champion handicap horse of 2012, returned to the races to add the 2013 sprinter of the year title. The now seven-year-old gelding - who has earned both champion titles under the tutelage of trainer Valorie Lund - added the biggest stakes win of his career on February 15 when he won the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap by two lengths.

    In addition to Metz, and Baze,  a special racetrack achievement award was given to Howard Belvoir's 2008 Washington Horse of the Year Wasserman, who retired last year at age 11 as Emerald Downs' leading earner and will now serve as a Washington racing goodwill ambassador. Fans can look forward to a Wasserman bobble head giveaway during the 2014 meet.

   The recipients of the Mark Kaufman Media Awards, which honors members of the press and their contributions to Thoroughbred racing in our state, were: Jim Price, of Spokane, a writer and former copy editor for The Spokesman-Review; former Playfair publicist and track announcer; and Monica Bretherton, of Seattle, who writes the "Horsebytes" blog for the Seattle PI.

    Nico Sauve' was named Washington plater of the year and Skyribbon received the most improved plater trophy.

    Other horse awards were earned by Parker's Storm Cat (the state's leading sire by earnings for the third consecutive year); Nationhood (top first-crop sire by earnings) and Julia Rose (broodmare of the year and dam of state champions Noosa Beach and Music of My Soul).

   Frederick (Rick) and Debbie Pabst's Blue Ribbon Farm earned their third straight breeder of the year title and Karl and Darlyne Krieg were the state's top owners of Washington-bred earners for the second consecutive year.

   The WHBPA/WTBOA Special Recognition Award was given to Sue Spooner of Olympia in recognition of her willingness to serve, open generosity and continued dedication to the Washington Thoroughbred racing industry.

   A special "Thoroughbred Industry Award for Excellence" was presented by former WTBOA General Manager Ralph Vacca to longtime WTBOA staffer Susan van Dyke.

   The evening's activities also featured the well-received Washington Horseman's Stimulus Silent Auction and Raffle, which has become an annual feature at the February celebrations.

   A complete rundown of the 2013 champions and award winners follows below.

WASHINGTON CHAMPIONS & AWARD WINNERS OF 2013    

2013 Washington Horse of the Year

2013 Washington Champion Older Filly or Mare

2013 Washington Champion Turf Horse

E Z KITTY

(5YO, He's Tops-Envision the Cat, by Lost Code)

Owners: Highlander Racing Stables LLC (Bruce & Cass Maller)/

Mike Chambers, John Xitco & Dan Agnew

Breeders: Jerry D. & Peggy F. Woods (Woodstead Farm)

Trainers: Jeffrey Metz/Mike Chambers

2013 Record: 13-6-3-3; $183,026

Stakes: Emerald Distaff H. (EmD), Hastings H. (EmD), Pegasus Training Center S. (R) (EmD),

Kachina H. (TuP), Sun City H. (TuP); 2nd Washington State Legislators H. (EmD), Mesa H. (TuP);

3rd Boeing H. (EmD), Princess of Palms S. (TuP), Glendale H. (TuP).

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2013 Washington Champion Older Horse

STRYKER PHD

(4YO, G., Bertrando-Striking Scholar, by Smart Strike)

Owners: Mona & Jim Hour

Breeders: Char Clark Thoroughbreds & Todd Havens (Western Stables)

Trainer: Margo Lloyd

2013 Record: 8-1-4-1; $101,120

Stakes: Muckleshoot Tribal Classic (R) (EmD); 2nd Longacres Mile H. (G3) (EmD),

Governor's H. (EmD), Budweiser H. (EmD), Mt. Rainier H. (EmD).

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2013 Washington Champion Sprinter

ABSOLUTELY COOL

(6YO, G., Absolute Harmony-Coup de Foudre, by Basket Weave)

Owner & Breeder: Karl C. Krieg

Trainer: Valorie Lund

2013 Record: 7-1-2-3; $56,255

Stakes: Bienvenidos S. (TuP); 2nd Phoenix Gold Cup H. (TuP), Coyote H. (TuP);

3rd Dark Star S. (Cby), Swift S. (TuP), Caballos Del Sol S. (TuP).

2013 Washington Champion Three-Year-Old

2013 Washington Champion Three-Year-Colt or Gelding

MUSIC OF MY SOUL

(C., Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave)

Owner: Elttaes Stable (Ken & Marleen Alhadeff)

Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson)

Trainer: Doris Harwood

2013 Record: 5-1-2-1; $52,120

Stakes: Coca-Cola H. (EmD); 2nd Seattle Slew H. (EmD); 3rd Jim Beam S. (R) (EmD).

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2013 Washington Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

MADAME PELE

(Salt Lake-Striking Scholar, by Smart Strike)

Owner: Kama'aina Thoroughbreds (Zack & Beth Correa)

Breeder: Char Clark Thoroughbreds

Trainers: Jim Penney & Lloyd Mason

2013 Record: 9-2-1-3; $57,692

Stakes: Comcast SportsNet S. (R) (EmD).

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2013 Washington Two-Year-Old Champion

2013 Washington Two-Year-Old Champion Colt or Gelding

DEL RIO HARBOR

(G., Harbor the Gold-Bahati, by Horse Chestnut [SAf])

Owners & Breeders: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson) &

Desert Rose Racing LLC (Melodie & Doak Walker)

Trainer: Doris Harwood

2013 Record: 6-4-1-0; $108,293

Stakes: Gottstein Futurity (EmD), WTBOA Lads S. (EmD), Emerald Express S. (EmD);

2nd Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge S. (R) (EmD).

2013 Washington Two-Year-Old Champion Filly

CHU AND YOU

(You and I-Bronze Charmer, by Volponi)

Owners & Breeders: Michael J. & Amy K. Feuerborn (Sky Fire Farm)

Trainer: Robert Baze

2013 Record: 5-4-0-0; $87,884

Stakes: Barbara Shinpoch S. (EmD), Angie C. S. (EmD), Northwest Farms S. (R) (EmD).

2013 Leading Sires

PARKER'S STORM CAT

(2000, Storm Cat-Macoumba, by Mr. Prospector)

Property of Mr. & Mrs. Elwin F. Gibson

Standing at Gibson Thoroughbred Farm

2013 Progeny Earnings of $1,105,719

2013 Leading Freshman Sire

NATIONHOOD

(2002, Cherokee Run-Elhasna, by Danzig)

Stands property of Nationhood Syndicate

Standing at Blue Ribbon Farm

2013 Broodmare of the Year

JULIA ROSE

(1997, Basket Weave-Cure My Blue's, by Cure the Blues)

Owned by Pam and Neal Christopherson. Died 2011.

9 named foals, all winners, 2 Washington champions NOOSA BEACH, horse of the year twice, champion handicap horse twice, champion sprinter, champion 2- and 3-year-old colt and MUSIC OF MY SOUL, champion 2- and 3-year-old, stakes winner NOOSITO and stakes-placed War Alert. Total earnings: $786,660.

2013 Leading Breeder by Washington-bred Money Won

MR. & MRS. FREDERICK L. PABST (Blue Ribbon Farm)

Awarded on the Basis of Total 2013 Washington-bred Earnings of $446,570

2013 Leading Owner by Washington-bred Money Won

KARL C. KRIEG

Awarded on the Basis of Total 2013 Washington-bred Earnings of $184,080

Other 2013 Awards:

Mark Kaufman Media Awards

JIM PRICE,writer and former copy editor for The Spokesman-Review; former Playfair publicist and track announcer. In recognition of a lifelong commitment to Washington's Thoroughbred industry as a writer, publicist, announcer, historian and racing enthusiast.

MONICA BRETHERTON, Seattle PI  blogger. In recognition of promoting Thoroughbreds in her column "Horsebytes, a blog - for Seattle-area horse folks," and as a life-long horse enthusiast especially attuned to Thoroughbred racehorses that transition to new vocations.

Special Racetrack Achievement Awards

JEFFREY METZ

Who in his first season of training in Washington (2013), led all trainers by wins (42) at Emerald Downs, finished fifth in the money standings and trained older mare E Z Kitty to championship honors

ROBERT BAZE

For his development of two-year-old Chu and You, who won three stakes during the 2013 season at Emerald Downs en route to be named champion juvenile filly.

WASSERMAN

2008 Washington Horse of the Year and Longacres Mile-G3 winner, who made 83 starts from ages 3 to 11 with a return of 13-15-14 for breeder-owner-trainer Howard Belvoir of which a track record $575,024 of his $599,091 lifetime earnings came at Emerald Downs. Retired from racing in 2013, he continues his role as racing's goodwill ambassador.

Thoroughbred Industry Award for Excellence

SUSAN VAN DYKE

Presented for her commitment to the Thoroughbred, its nobility, its history and bloodlines through research and the written word, embodying passion, integrity and a lifetime of devotion.

WHBPA/WTBOA Special Recognition Award

SUE SPOONER

In recognition of your willingness to serve, open generosity and continued dedication to the Washington Thoroughbred Racing Industry.

Goodness is the only investment that never fails.  ~ Henry David Thoreau

Other 2013 Accomplishments

Highest Priced WTBOA-sold Yearling Colt in 2013

HARBOR THE GOLD-BAHATI, by Horse Chestnut (SAf) 

Consigned by Bar C Racing Stables Inc., Agent for Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson) & Desert Rose Racing LLC (Doak & Melodie Walker)

Purchased by Glen Todd & Mark Dedomenico for $70,000

Highest Priced WTBOA-sold Yearling Filly in 2013

STORMIN FEVER-CIELO DULCE, by Cahill Road

Consigned by Critter Creek Farm (Stormy Hull & Ginger Samples)

Purchased by Todd & Shawn Hansen (Scatter Creek Training Center) for $67,000

Best WTBOA-sold Two-year-old Performer in 2013

NOOSITO

(C., Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave)

Owner: Last Rose Stable (Jeff Harwood, Pat & Mullen Chinn, Delores Christianson, Duane Weber, Terry Tonasket, Michael Pollowitz & Jeff Wilson) Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson); Trainer: Doris Harwood

2013 Record         4      2         0         2       $52,878

Stakes: Daily Racing Form Dennis Dodge S. (R) (EmD); 3rd Gottstein Futurity (EmD), WTBOA Lads S. (EmD).

Best WTBOA-sold Three-year-old Performer in 2013

MUSIC OF MY SOUL

(C., Harbor the Gold-Julia Rose, by Basket Weave)

Owner: Elttaes Stable (Ken & Marleen Alhadeff); Breeder: Bar C Racing Stables Inc. (Pam & Neal Christopherson); Trainer: Doris Harwood

2013 Record         5      1         2         1       $52,120

Stakes: Coca-Cola H. (EmD); 2nd Seattle Slew H. (EmD); 3rd Jim Beam S. (R) (EmD).

Ben's Cat Earns Third Maryland Horse of the Year Title

    Ben's Cat, the now eight-year-old son of three-time leading Washington sire Parker's Storm Cat, was named Maryland's horse of the year for the unprecedented third time in a row by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. Raced, bred and trained by King Leatherbury, Ben's Cat also took three divisional titles in 2013 - champion older horse, champion sprinter and champion turf horse - to become the "most decorated state-bred in the 62-year history of the awards," when increasing his total title wins to ten.

    In 2013, Ben's Cat, who is out of the stakes-placed Thirty Eight Paces matron Twofox, won five stakes and placed in three others during his eight-race campaign which netted him $505,350 - the top amount for any Maryland-bred runner in 2013 - and pushed his earnings total to $1,862,640 in 37 starts with an impressive 24-4-3 for the multiple graded stakes winner.

   Parker's Storm Cat, a now 14-year-old son of Storm Cat and half-brother to leading sire Malibu Moon, sired the earners of $1,105,719 in 2013 and stands property of Elwin and Patti Gibson at Gibson Thoroughbred Farm in Thorp.

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    Roz Barclay's Commandress won her fourth race, a $25,000 claiming race at Golden Gate Fields on February 21, increasing her earnings to $66,340. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Master Command-Stylish Mission is trained by Len Kasmerski.

    Jerry Hollendorfer and Dr. George Todaro's four-year-old Happybrithdaybaby, ridden by Russell Baze, won a mile allowance/$62,500 optional claiming (N) race at Golden Gate Fields on February 23.  The Kentucky-bred daughter of Successful Appeal pushed her earnings to $115,550 and improved her record to 6-3-0 from ten starts.

   Remmah Racing Inc.'s homebred Lexie Arleen took a mile starter allowance on February 21 at Golden Gate. The three-year-old California-bred daughter of El Dorado Farms LLC's Raise the Bluff improved her record to 2-2-1 from six starts and has earned $29,900. She is the second foal out of the winning Kentucky Lucky mare Lucky Lexie, a three-quarter sister to stakes winners Beau Maggie, Spoilt Maggie and $172,099 stakes-placed Slew Can Go and a half-sister to 1993 Gottstein Futurity winner G L Junior.

   Tim and Sue Spooner's three-year-old Charlie Thomas, a Kentucky-bred gelding by Seeking the Dia, won a mile starter allowance race at Golden Gate on February 22. It was the runner's second win in four starts since the now Dan Markle-trained runner had been claimed by the Olympia couple in November 2013.

   Multiple graded stakes winner Summer Hit added $12,000 to his earnings after running third in the $100,000 Sensational Star Handicap, an about 6 1/2-furlong turf event for older California-bred runners, on February 22 at Santa Anita. The five-year-old gelded son of Bertrando, who was bred by Ken and Jan Heidt's K & J Farm out of Mia F Eighteen, by Tough Knight, has now earned $427,755.

    Four-year-old first-time starter Cowboy Clyde, a Washington-bred son of Ore Grade-Mary's A. T. M., by Wolf Power (SAf), bred by Ore Grade Inc. and raced by them with partner Bobby V. McMeans, won a six-furlong maiden/$30,000 optional claiming (N) race by two lengths at Turf Paradise on  February 24. The new winner is a full brother to $69,870 stakes-placed Lobo Country.

   2012 Emerald Downs horse of the meeting Class Included won the $60,000 Bayou Handicap at Fair Grounds on February 22 and improved her record to 13-7-1 from 25 starts and earnings to $630,826. Bred and originally raced by Michael and Amy Feuerborn, Class Included is a six-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Include-A Classic Life, by Sky Classic.

    Lochte, the four-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro who took his first stakes victory in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on February 9, is the first foal out of $152,110 stakes winner Lemon Kiss, by Lemon Drop Kid, who won the 2008 Emerald Downs Distaff Handicap, by a half-length over Shampoo, in what was to be her final start for William DeBurgh and Mark Dedomenico LLC.

   Freddie G, a three-year-old son of Old Fashioned, won a mile maiden special weight race by 3 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct on February 23. The new winner is out of 2002 Humana Distaff Handicap (G1) victress Celtic Melody, a granddaughter of Grade 1 winner and Washington horse of the year Delicate Vine.

In Memoriam

Barbara Ann Armstrong

   Barbara A. Armstrong, 71, passed peacefully in her home on February 23, 2014, just shy of her 72nd birthday. Barbara was born March 9, 1942, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane to Francis W. and Julianne Franzen.

   Barbara never left Spokane. She grew up on a dairy farm west of Spokane and attended Cheney High School. In her youth she worked the dairy farm, but her true love was her horses.

   With her former husband Forrest Armstrong they trained Quarter Horses and Appaloosas throughout the Northwest and Canada. After they separated, Barbara took up training Thoroughbreds. From 1976 through 1987 she had a record of 51-42-52 from 423 starts, after which she put her time into strictly breeding and raising Thoroughbred race horses. Her success both on and off the track with winning races and producing top runners cannot be disputed. She loved every spring when the foals arrived to going to the various tracks to watch her former foals run.

  She is survived by her daughters, Carrie Dean (Ken) Wamstad, Montevideo, MN, and Tracy Ann (Jeff) Healy, Spokane; six grandchildren, Clayton (Holly) Wamstad, Laurel, NE, Mica, Jaden, Jesse, Susannah and William Wamstad, Montevideo, MN; nephews, Donald McGlasson and John Griffith; and niece, Julie Dalton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Betty Griffith and her nephew, Kevin McGlasson.